In the words of Kevin Harlan, Jimmy Frickin’ Butler took control in Game 1 to steal homecourt for Miami.
The Boston Celtics appeared in control at halftime of Game 1, taking a 66-57 lead into the break with a dominant showing in the paint (40-14 advantage). Miami was hanging around thanks to some hot three-point shooting, but Boston was the team controlling the pace and getting seemingly whatever they wanted.
In the second half, things flipped, as Miami became the more physical team, led by Jimmy Butler but with contributions up and down the roster, as they turned that nine-point deficit entering the third quarter into an 11-point advantage by the time the fourth quarter arrived. While Bam Adebayo had a terrific night with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists and four other members of the Heat scored 15 points, it was Jimmy Butler who took center stage yet again in these playoffs.
Butler finished the game with 35 points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds, as he had his hands in everything the Heat were doing well on both ends of the floor. Boston struggled with how to contain Butler in the second half. When they left him single-covered, he got to his spots and buried bucket after bucket. When they sent doubles, he calmly sought out the open man who knocked down the shot more often than not — Miami shot 51.
